Method and apparatus for producing hollow glass articles by module immersion technique

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to improvements in the apparatus and method for practicing the module immersion technique for forming hollow glass articles and more particularly involves provisions for controlling the heat flow from the molten glass to the cavity forming immersed module, while concurrently applying fluid pressure forces on the molten glass to cause it to accurately conform to the configuration of the immersed module without producing undesirable stresses in these portions of the molten glass which is immediately rigidified due to its contact with the immersed module.

United States Patent 1191 Keefer et al.

[75] Inventors: George E. Keefer, Toledo; Paul J.

Qualls, Sylvania, both of Ohio [73] Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc., Toledo, Ohio The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to July 22, 1986, has been disclaimed.

22 Filed: May 6,1970 21 Appl.N0.I37,370

' Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation 'of S'er. No. 622,347, March- 10, 1967,

[ Notice:

abandoned. [52] US. Cl 65/25 A, 65/33, 65/81, 65/157, 65/169, 65/306 [51] Int. Cl C03b 39/00, C03c 29/00 [58] Field of Search 65/33, 23, 25 A, 8.1, 157, 65/169, 306

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,457,054 7/1969 Pei .a 65/18 nfls 2,045,716 10/1966 McCuuley 65/93 X 3,277,535 10/1966 Rupert 18/44 2,924,854 2/1960 Birckhead et 81.. 65/81 X 798,642 9/1905 Wadsworth 6.5/8 1 2,434,780 1/1948 WlSS et 81. 65/24 X 2,084,811 6/1937 Keen 4 65/81 X 3,453,094" 7/1969 Keefer 65/23 2,725,320 11/1955 Atkeson et al 65/25 X Primary ExaminerFrank W. Miga Attorney, Agent, or Firm-E. J. Holler; Charles S.

Lynch [5 7] ABSTRACT The disclosure relates to improvements in the apparatus and method for practicing the module immersion technique for forming hollow glass articles and more particularly involves provisions for controlling the heat flow from the molten glass to the cavity forming immersed module, while concurrently applying fluid pressure forces on the molten glass to cause it to accurately conform to the configuration of the immersed module without producing undesirable stresses in these portions of the molten glass which is immediately rigidified due to its contact with the immersed module.

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIEBIIARIZ um 3.796555 sum 2 or 4 PAIENIEUNAR 12 m4 SHEET 3 1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HOLLOW GLASS ARTICLES BY MODULE IMMERSION TECHNIQUE This applicant is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 622,347 filed Mar. l0, 1967 which is incorporated and relied on herein and is now abanpart of Ser. No. 503,831 and now U.S. Pat. No.

3,520,668, on the same date as the present application.

As is described in detail in the aforementioned copending application, the module immersion technique has been successfully applied in the production of relatively large glass bodies having a plurality of closely spaced internal cavities. The desired internal cavities are produced by the immersion of normally rigid modules in a pool of molten glass and effecting the solidification of the glass around such modules. The bulk of the module is formed from a material having a melting point below the fiber softening point, preferably below the annealing point of the particular glass in which the module is to be immersed. As a result, the module material melts as the molten glass rigidifies around the module and hence the module material may be removed from the glass in liquid form simply by inverting the'glass article when it has cooled to rigidity.

A typical material from which such modules are formed has sufficient heat-absorbing capacity to insure that the adjacent portions of the molten glass are rigidified. Moreover, most practicable candidate meltable module materials have a substantially higher coefficient of thermal conductivity than the glass. Under these circumstances, and particularly where a plurality of closely spaced modules are simultaneously immersed in the glass and a minimum spacing is provided between the adjacent modules, or a module and an adjacent mold wall, the rate of heat withdrawal from the molten glass is so high that those portions of the molten glass flowing into the relatively narrow spaces between adjacent modules becomes rigid before the complete insertion of the modules in the molten glass is accomplished. As a result, two undesirable conditions may and do occur. In the first place, the molten glass is forced to seek another path to flow upwardly around the modules and thus complete the immersion of the modules and fill in the top portions of the relatively narrow space between the adjacent modules. This often results in voids being unintentionally produced in the space between the modules, resulting in a defective article. Secondly, and equally detrimental, is the fact that the relatively fast rigidification of the molten glass between the adjacent modules necessarily requires the application of a much larger force to the modules to complete their immersion. When mechanical means are solely relied upon for the production of such increased immersion force, it has been observed that undue stresses are produced in the glass that has become rigid before the mechani- 2 cal motion has stopped, often resulting in cracking of these portions, and again resulting in a defective article. The prior art method and apparatus in which the aforementioned problems are encountered, are exemplified by the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 2,045,716, issued June 30, 1936', to G. V. McCauley.

In accordance with this invention, the rate of heat flow from the molten glass into the respective modules is controlled through the application of a relatively thin layer of insulating mate'rial to the glass contacting surface of the module. Such reduced rate of heat flow permits the complete immersion of the modules in the molten glass to be accomplished before complete solidification of the molten glass is effected in the relatively narrow spaces between adjacent modules. In other words, there is always a discrete thickness of molten glass between the adjacent modules to permit the mol' ten glass to flow upwardly relative to the modules and complete the immersion process. Additionally, in accordance with this invention, a fluid pressure differential is applied to the molten glass in the areas thereof surrounding'the modules so as to provide a uniform force operating on all portions of the molten glass tending to move it upwardly relative to the modules to effeet the complete immersion of the modules.

ON THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an immersion casting apparatusembodying the improvements of this invention. I

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged scale, vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1. 7

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified casting apparatus embodying this invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged scale, ve rtical'sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 4.

As is clearly set forth in my aforementioned copending patent application, the module immersion technique of fabricating large glass articles having a plurality of internal cavities is applicable to any type of glassy material which is capable of assuming a molten form. Similarly, a large variety of module materials can be employed to form the immersion modules, so long as the selected module material is meltable at or near the annealing point of the molten glass. Specific examples of such glasses and suitable module materials are set forth in my aforementioned copending application and will not be repeated here.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus embodying the improvements of this invention comprises an open top primary mold or container having a bottom wall 100, and a peripheral upstanding sidewall 10b. The materials of walls 10a and 10b should be compatable with and capable of containing the molten glass to be cast. The bottom wall 10a preferably defines a surface corresponding to the desired bottom surface of the glass article to be cast; however, such bottom wall has a substantially greater peripheral area than is desired in some cases in the final glass article. The upstanding sidewall 10b may, if desired, correspond generally to the desired sidewall configuration of the glass article to be molded but this is not essential. Sidewall 10b may be formed from separate pieces to facilitate assembly to and removal from bottom wall 10a. Bolts or clamping devices (not shown) may be utilized to secure wall 10b to base 100. In any event, the primary mold defines an open top cavity which may be substantially filled by the molten glass material G.

A module supporting plate 1 1 is provided which corresponds generally in configuration to the primary mold but is often slightly smaller in peripheral extent than such primary mold 10 so as to permit the plate 11 to be insertable within the top portions of the sidewall 10b, and also to allow ambient pressure at the glass surface. A plurality of modules 12 are supported by plate 11 in a depending relationship thereto, as for example, by a threaded tubular stem 14 which passes through suitable vertical apertures 11a in the plate 11 and are secured to the plate by nuts 14a.

In accordance with this invention, the plate 11 also supports in depending relationship a peripheral molding wall 15, the interior surface 15a of which defines the desired external surface of the glass article to be molded. The molding wall 15 is secured to plate 11 in any suitable fashion as by clamps or bolts 15c (FIG. 3) and may be formed in several pieces to facilitate assembly or removal.

The module supporting plate 11 is, in turn, supported by'an inverted cup-shaped structural element 16 having an out turned radial flange 16a around its bottom periphery which is bolted to the top surface of the plate 11 by a plurality of bolts 16b. A hollow support tube 17 is coaxially secured to the central portions of the sup port structure 16 and conventional means (not shown) are provided to raise and lower the support tube 17 in order to effect corresponding movements of the module supporting plate 11 vertically toward and away from the primary mold 10. It should be additionally noted that the support structure 16 and support tube 17 define an enclosed plenum chamber 160 and, as will be later described, this chamber is placed in fluid communication with a vacuum source (not shown) to effect a desired reduction of gas pressure within the chamber 16c during the module immersion step. Additionally plate 11 is provided with a plurality of apertures lle.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 3, each module 12 comprises a hollow core 12a of meltable material, the external periphery of which generally conforms to the shape of the desired cavity to be formed in the glass article except that each core 12a is smaller than the desired cavity. The bottom portions of support stem 14, which can be made from a non-melting or a meltable material, is pressed into, or otherwise suitably secured in a top opening 120 in the hollow core 12a. Module 12 is brought to its proper dimensions to function as the cavity forming device through the application to all glass contacting surfaces of the core 12a of a relatively thin surface coating 13 of a heat insulating material. such material is selected to provide sufficient resistance to the heat flow transmitted from the molten glass to the module core so as to prevent prematurerigidification of any substantial depth of the adjacent molten glass, particularly in the relatively thin web areas which exist between closely spaced adjacent modules. Additionally, the coating 13 should have the property of being a noncontaminate of the molten glass and be capable of ready removal from the glass when the glass article is rigidified and cooled. For other reasons, the coating 13 should be porous to gases, but impervious to molten glass.

The insulating coating material 13 can be any refractory material that has a lower coefficient of thermal conductivity than the module material; of course. the material chosen is one that can withstand the temperatures involved and that is not appreciably chemically attacked by the molten glass or the module material. The particular material discussed herein in connection with the desired embodiments, Fiberfrax, a product of The Carborundum Company, representative of refractory, matted, fibrous silica-alumina materials which have been found to be especially useful. The composition of the Fiberfrax material employed in weight percent was 50.9 A1 0 46.8 SiO 1.2 B 0 0.8 Na O, with traces of other inorganics (0.3 0.5 percent).

In the embodiments where a vacuum is pulled through the module, the low conductivity refractory material used is foraminous or porous, as in the case of Fiberfrax. However, when a vacuum is not pulled through the module, the low coefficient of thermal conductivity material on the surface of the module need not be porous, as will be understood.

The insulating material 13 may be applied to the core surface in the form of a tape which is wrapped snugly around the entire portion of the core 12a that will be in contact with the molten glass. Alternatively, the insulating material may be formed as a slurry which is then coated on the core material and dried in place prior to insertion of the respective module into the molten glass. It has also been found desirable to apply coating 13 to the glass contacting surfaces of mold walls 15, 10a and 10b where it functions as an effective mold release agent, in addition to its functioning to delay heat transfer. 5 I

It will be noted that the module cores 12a are shown as hollow and are provided with a plurality of wall apertures 12b communicating with the internal surface of the porous insulating .coating 13. As will be later described, this construction is desirable in that it effects the removal of any gas bubbles or seeds which gener ally form on the surface of the coating 13 as the modules are lowered into the molten glass, as well as the gases originally contained in the pores of coating 13. By providing hollow support stems 14 for each module which are in fluid communication with the plenum chamber defined by the support structure 16, it will be apparent that the great majority of gas bubbles or seeds tending to collect on the module coating 13 will be removed through the interconnected vacuum systerm.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in F168. 13, the module carrier plate 1 1 and the connected depending modules 12 are originally positioned above the primary mold 10 to permit such mold to be filled with a pool of molten glass G. The module plate 11 is then lowered toward the pool of molten glass G and concurrently vacuum is applied to plenum chamber 16c to reduce the gas pressure existing within the interior of each hollow module 12 and also above the surface of the molten glass G immediately adjacent to each module. This vacuum system is completed when the bottom end 15b of the molding wall 15 contacts the molten glass G. As the module support plate 11 is lowered into its final molding position where the modules 12 are dis posed at a desired spacing above the bottom 10a of the primary mold 10, those portions of the pool of molten glass G which are external of the molding wall 15 are continuously exposed to ambient gaseous pressure. It is therefore apparent that the entire body of molten glass G is subjected to a fluid pressure force tending to move the molten glass upwardly around the modules 12, and between the modules 12 and the adjacent molding wall 15, as such modules are concurrently being lowered into the molten glass.

As each module 12 contacts the molten glass, the heat transfer from the molten glass to the module effects a rigidification of a thin skin of the glass immediately adjacent to the module surface; however, due to the heat insulating effects of the module coating 13, this skin does not acquire any substantial depth, even in the spaces between the adjacent modules, for a limited time period; hence the bulk of the glass will remain in a substantially molten condition and hence free to rise upwardly around and between the modules 12 and thereby to accurately conform to all surfaces of all modules prior to any substantial thickening of the skin of rigid glass around each module. With the described apparatus the air contained in the pores of coating material 13, are immediately removed due to the fact that the interior of the modules is exposed to vacuum so that gases existing in the surface of the modules are withdrawn through the interior of the modules.

It will be noted that when themodule carrying plate 11 is moved downwardly to its final desired position with respect to the primary mold 10, the bottom portion 15b of the molding wall 15 is still spaced slightly above the bottom wall a of the primary mold. This is to insure that the fluid pressure forces acting on the molten glass will be fully effective until the molten glass contained within the molding wall l5'vhas reached its final position relative to the inserted modules 12.

As'the molten glass cools, it does so primarily by heat transfer to the inserted modules 12, thus effecting the melting of the module cores 12b; however, the thin skin of rigidified glass which forms almost instantly around each module is sufficiently rigid to insure that the desired cavity, corresponding in shape to the original configuration of each module, is produced within the glass body. a

When the entire glass body has cooled sufficiently to be self-supporting and the module material is at a temperature at or above its melting point, the module car rying plate 11 can be elevated away from the glass body due to the fact that the core material engaging the supporting stems 14 of each module has melted, thus freeing the module support plate 11 from the glass. The rigid molding wall 15 can readily be pulled out of engagement with the desired glass body confined therebetween due to the mold release action of the coating 13. Alternatively, the molding wall 15 in FIGS. 1, 3 or 4 can also be of a melt'able material such as aluminum, with or without an outer insulating coating. The primary mold 10 may be removed from the solid glass at any convenient time. The molten module material can be removed from the glass body simply by inversion. The desired molded glass body (i.e., that portion originally confined within molding wall 15) can be obtained simply by cracking off those portions of the glass body that are external to the original position of the molding wall 15 through the narrow glass .web G1 produced between the bottom position of the molding wall 15' and the adjacent bottom surface 10a of the-primary mold 10. The module coating materialcan be removed from the glass cavities by air or grit blasting, or by acid leaching, or other suitable means.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the maximum fluid force that can be applied to the molten glass to assist it in its flow upwardly relative to the inserted modules is governed by the difference between the ambient pressure and the degree of vacuum produced within the plenum chamber defined by the support structure 16. If additional fluid pressure is desired, then the modification of this invention shown in FIG. 4 may be utilized. In this modification, the primary mold 10 is provided at its top surface with a radial flange 10c and an inverted cup-shaped cover 18 is sealingly secured to such flange by means not shown and is provided with a sliding'seal 18c engaging the outside surface of support tube 17. A fluid conduit 18d communicates with the internal space defined by the cover 18 and is connected to a suitable source (not shown) of compressed air or a compressed inert gas, depending upon the susceptibility of the particular molten glass to contamination by gases. With this arrangement, any desired degree of fluid pressure can be applied to those portions of the molten glass pool which lie externally to the peripheral molding wall l5- and hence a substantially higher fluid force can be imposed upon the molten glass to assist it in its movement relatively upwardly with' respect to themodules Has the modules are inserted into the molten glass.

The peripheral molding wall 25 illustrated in FIG. 5

also represents a modification of this invention. If the presence of bubbles or seeds around the periphery of the desired glass article constitute a problem, the molding wall 25 may also be formed as a porous, hollow construction and connected in fluid communication with the vacuum plenum chamber 160. Thus wall 25 comprises a central core 25a of expanded metal, a U- shaped perforated metal plate 25bsurrounding such core, and an external coating 13 of Fiberfrax or similar porous, non-contaminating refractory, insulating material. The top end of plate 25b is provided with a horizontal flange 25c permitting the mounting of wall 25 to module support plate 1 l by suitable bolts (not shown). Apertures lleare provided in'plate 11 communicating with core 25a. Thus any gas bubbles released adjacent to or on the wall coating 13 will be withdrawn through the vacuum system.

.If it is desired to concur'rently mold the top surface of the desired glass article, then a top molding plate 20 can be employed in either of the modifications of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. Such plate is mounted beneath the module support plate 11 by suitable bolts 20a and spans the entire space defined between the top portions of the annular molding wall 15. Top molding plate 20 is, of course, suitably apertured as at 20b to receive the support stems 14 of the modules 12. Additionally, in order to not impede the removal of gases rising to the surface of the molten glass, the top plate 20 is preferably formed from a porous or foraminous material, such as, for example, a porous metal. Alternatively, and as specifically-illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the core plate 20 comprises a perforated or expanded metal plate 21 on the bottom glass contacting surface of which is provided a coating of porous insulating material 22 having the same characteristics as described for the insulating material 13. In either event, any gases rising to the sur-' face of the molten glass are free to permeate through the top plate 20 and escape into plenum chamber 160 through the plurality of apertures He provided in plate 1 1, while the molten glass itself cannot so permeate the top plate 20, and hence top plate 20 molds the molten glass to conform to its surface.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing. description and it is intended to include within the scope of the appended claims all obvious modifications and applications of this invention.

We claim: 1. The method of forming a hollow glass article comprising the steps of:

l. filling with molten glass an open top primary mold having a floor corresponding to the bottom surface of the desired article, and a peripheral upstanding side wall;

2. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a peripheral mold wall having an internal surface defining the side wall contour of the desired article; and

3. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a normally rigid module having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the hollow glass article.

2. The method of forming a hollow glass article comprising the steps of:

1. filling with molten glass an open top primary mold having a floor corresponding to the bottom surface of the desired article, and a peripheral upstanding side wall;

2. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a peripheral mold wall having an internal surface defining the side wall contour of the desired article;

3. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a normally rigid module having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the hollow glass article; and

4. applying a fluid pressure differential to a portion of said pool of molten glass contained within said mold wall, thereby urging the molten glass within said mold wall to flowupwardly relative to the module to surround same.

3. The method of claim 1 plus the step of continuously withdrawing gases from above the glass as it rises during steps (2) and (3).

4. The method of forming a hollow glass article comprising the steps of:

1. filling with molten glass an open top primary mold having a floor corresponding to the bottom surface of the desired article, and a peripheral upstanding side wall;

2. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a peripheral mold wall having an internal surface defining the side wall contour of the desired article;

3. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a normally rigid module having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the hollow glass article; and

4. moving a top molding plate downwardly to contact the molten glass as the module reaches its final position, the'bottom surface of said plate defining the top surface of the desired glass article.

5. The method of claim 4 plus concurrently with steps (2) and (3) withdrawing gases from above the glass as it rises.

6. The method of forming a hollow glass article comprising the steps of:

1. filling with a molten glass an open top primary mold having a floor corresponding to the bottom surface of the desired article, and a peripheral upstanding side wall;

2. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a peripheral mold wall having an internal surface 5 defining the side wall contour of the desired article;

3. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a normally rigid module having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the hollow glass article;

4. moving a top molding plate downwardly to contact the molten glass as the module reaches its final position, the bottom surface of said plate defining the top surface of the desired glass article; and

5.. concurrently with steps (2), (3) and (4) producing a reduced gas pressure on the surface of the molten glass contained within said peripheral mold wall relative to the gas pressure on the remaining surface of the molten glass to assist the molten glass within said mold wall to flow relatively upwardly around said module.

7. Apparatus. for molding molten glass into a hollow article configuration comprising, in combination:

1. an open top primary mold adapted to contain a pool of molten glass;

2. a support plate overlying said primary mold and vertically movable relative to said primary mold to .and from a molding position;

3. a continuous molding wall secured in depending relationship to said support plate, the internal surface of said wall defining the peripheral shape of the desired glass article;

4. at least one normally rigid module suspended from said support plate, said module being formed of a normally rigid material and having an external configuration corresponding to a desired internal cavity in the glass article; and

5. means for applying fluid pressure forces to the molten glass as said support plate is moved toward said primary mold to assist the flow of molten glass relatively upward around said module.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the bulk of said module is formed of a material that is molten at the fiber softening point temperature of the glass and has sufficient heat absorbing capacity to solidify the adjacent surface layer of the molten glass contacting same.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said module has a surface coating of heat insulating material which is a non-contaminant of the molten glass and has a lower coefficient of thermal conductivity than said material of the bulk of the module.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the bulk of said module is formed of a material that is molten at the annealing point temperature of the glass and has sufficient heat absorbing capacity to solidify the adjacent surface layer of the molten glass contacting same.

11. Apparatus for molding molten glass into a hollow article configuration comprising, in combination:

1. an open top primary mold adapted to contain a pool of molten glass;

2. a support plate overlying said primary mold and vertically movable relative to said primary mold to and from a molding position;

3. a continuous molding wall secured in depending relationship to said support plate, the internal surface of said wall defining the peripheral shape of the desired glass article;

4. at least one normally rigid module suspended from said support plate, said module being formed of a force on said molten glass to assist its flow upwardly around said module.

13. The method of forming a hollow glass article comprising the steps of:

normally rigid material and having an external con- 1 filli i a molten glass an Open top primary figuration corresponding to a desired internal cavmold having a floor corresponding to the bottom m the glass avrtfcle; f surface of the desired article, and a peripheral up- 5. means for applying fluid pressure forces to the S'tandin'g side wall;

molten glass as i support plate is moved toward 2. movin'gdownwardly into the pool of molten glass,

Said primary mold to assist the flow of molten glass a peripheral mold wall having an internal surface relatively upward around said module, said means comprising a. means defining a vacuum plenum chamber above said support plate; I

defining the side wall contour of the desired article;

3. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a normally rigid module having an external configb. a luralit of a rtures in sa'd s ort late; a gorous g zeisposed s ri bgttom of uration corresponding to the desired internal consaid support plate and the top portions of the said figurfmon of the h9now glass amok; module staid porous plate Spanning the entire 4. moving a top molding plate downwardly to contact area defined by said molding wall a providing the molten glass as the module reaches its final poa molding Surface contacting the molten glass smon, the bottom surface of said plate defimng'the when said support plate is moved to said molding top sufface of desll'ed l S article, and position and being pervious to gases but impervi- PP y a fluld Pressure dlfferentlal to a P us t molten l of said pool of molten glass contained within said 12. The apparatus of claim 11 plus a cover sealingly mold wall, thereby urging the molten glass within engageable with the top periphery of said primary said mold wall to flow upwardly relative to the mold, and means for increasing the gas pressure within module to surround said module. said cover, thereby applying an additional pressure 

1. The method of forming a hollow glass article comprising the steps of:
 1. filling with molten glass an open top primary mold having a floor corresponding to the bottom surface of the desired article, and a peripheral upstanding side wall;
 2. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a peripheral mold wall having an internal surface defining the side wall contour of the desired article; and
 3. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a normally rigid module having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the hollow glass article.
 2. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a peripheral mold wall having an internal surface defining the side wall contour of the desired article;
 2. The method of forming a hollow glass article comprising the steps of:
 2. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a peripheral mold wall having an internal surface defining the side wall contour of the desired article; and
 2. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a peripheral mold wall having an internal surface defining the side wall contour of the desired article;
 2. a support plate overlying said primary mold and vertically movable relative to said primary mold to and from a molding position;
 2. a support plate overlying said primary mold and vertically movable relative to said primary mold to and from a molding position;
 2. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a peripheral mold wall having an internal surface defining the side wall contour of the desired article;
 2. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass, a peripheral mold wall having an internal surface defining the side wall contour of the desired article;
 3. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a normally rigid module having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the hollow glass article;
 3. a continuous molding wall secured in depending relationship to said support plate, the internal surface of said wall defining the peripheral shape of the desired glass article;
 3. a continuous molding wall secured in depending relationship to said support plate, the internal surface of said wall defining the peripheral shape of the desired glass article;
 3. The method of claim 1 plus the step of continuously withdrawing gases from above the glass as it rises during steps (2) and (3).
 3. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a normally rigid module having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the hollow glass article;
 3. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a normally rigid module having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the hollow glass article; and
 3. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a normally rigid module having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the hollow glass article; and
 3. moving downwardly into the pool of molten glass a normally rigid module having an external configuration corresponding to the desired internal configuration of the hollow glass article.
 4. moving a top molding plate downwardly to contact the molten glass as the module reaches its final position, the bottom surface of said plate defining the top surface of the desired glass article.
 4. applying a fluid pressure differential to a portion of said pool of molten glass contained within said mold wall, thereby urging the molten glass within said mold wall to flow upwardly relative to the module to surround same.
 4. The method of forming a hollow glass article comprising the steps of:
 4. at least one normally rigid module suspended from said support plate, said module being formed of a normally rigid material and having an external configuration corresponding to a desired internal cavity in the glass article; and
 4. at least one normally rigid module suspended from said support plate, said module being formed of a normally rigid material and having an external configuration corresponding to a desired internal cavity in the glass article; and
 4. moving a top molding plate downwardly to contact the molten glass as the module reaches its final position, the bottom surface of said plate defining the top surface of the desired glass article; and
 4. moving a top molding plate downwardly to contact the molten glass as the module reaches its final position, the bottom surface of said plate defining the top surface of the desired glass article, and
 5. applying a fluid pressure differential to a portion of said pool of molten glass contained within said mold wall, thereby urging the molten glass within said mold wall to flow upwardly relative to the module to surround said module.
 5. concurrently with steps (2), (3) and (4) producing a reduced gas pressure on the surface of the molten glass contained within said peripheral mold wall relative to the gas pressure on the remaining surface of the molten glass to assist the molten glass within said mold wall to flow relatively upwardly around said module.
 5. means for applying fluid pressure forces to the molten glass as said support plate is moved toward said primary mold to assist the flow of molten glass relatively upward around said module.
 5. The method of claim 4 plus concurrently with steps (2) and (3) withdrawing gases from above the glass as it rises.
 5. means for applying fluid pressure forces to the molten glass as said support plate is moved toward said primary mold to assist the flow of molten glass relatively upward around said module, said means comprising a. means defining a vacuum plenum chamber above said support plate; b. a plurality of apertures in said support plate; c. a porous plate disposed between the bottom of said support plate and the top portions of the said module, said porous plate spanning the entire area defined by said molding wall and providing a molding surface contacting the molten glass when said support plate is moved to said molding position and being pervious to gases but impervious to molten glass.
 6. The method of forming a hollow glass article comprising the steps of:
 7. Apparatus for molding molten glass into a hollow article configuration comprising, in combination:
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the bulk of said module is formed of a material that is molten at the fiber softening point temperature of the glass and has sufficient heat absorbing capacity to solidify the adjacent surface layer of the molten glass contacting same.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said module has A surface coating of heat insulating material which is a non-contaminant of the molten glass and has a lower coefficient of thermal conductivity than said material of the bulk of the module.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the bulk of said module is formed of a material that is molten at the annealing point temperature of the glass and has sufficient heat absorbing capacity to solidify the adjacent surface layer of the molten glass contacting same.
 11. Apparatus for molding molten glass into a hollow article configuration comprising, in combination:
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 plus a cover sealingly engageable with the top periphery of said primary mold, and means for increasing the gas pressure within said cover, thereby applying an additional pressure force on said molten glass to assist its flow upwardly around said module.
 13. The method of forming a hollow glass article comprising the steps of: 